Workday Financials Principal Consultant

The Workday Financials Principal Consultant is a senior functional consultant responsible for leading the design, configuration, and delivery of Workday Financial Management solutions. Acting as a trusted advisor, this individual helps organisations transform and optimise their finance operations while ensuring solutions align with business objectives and Workday leading practices. The Principal Consultant combines deep Financials expertise with delivery leadership, pre-sales support, and mentoring responsibilities. They work closely with clients to design scalable financial solutions, lead complex project workstreams, and support the growth of the Workday practice through knowledge sharing and thought leadership. We welcome candidates with expertise across one or more core Workday Financial Management pillars, including Record-to-Report (R2R), Procure-to-Pay (P2P), and Contracts-to-Cash (C2C). Responsibilities Serve as a Workday Financials subject matter expert, providing guidance on finance transformation and Workday best practices. Lead client workshops and design sessions to define Workday Financial Management solutions aligned to business requirements. Design and deliver Workday Financial Management solutions across one or more core process areas including Record-to-Report (R2R), Procure-to-Pay (P2P), and Contracts-to-Cash (C2C). Advise clients on finance operating models, business processes, controls, compliance, and optimisation opportunities. Lead Financials workstreams on medium to large Workday implementations, managing solution decisions, risks, and dependencies. Partner with Reporting, Security, Integrations, Data, Change Management, and Project Management teams to deliver integrated solutions. Support testing, deployment, cutover, and post-go-live transition activities. Mentor consultants and analysts, providing coaching, quality reviews, and functional leadership. Support business development activities including solutioning, estimations, proposals, demonstrations, and customer presentations. Contribute to practice development through internal training, asset creation, methodology enhancements, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Maintain expertise in Workday Financials functionality, industry trends, and product innovations. Skills & Requirements Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Active Workday Financials Certification preferred. 5+ years of Workday Financials implementation experience. Proven experience leading Financials workstreams on end-to-end Workday implementations. Deep functional expertise in one or more Workday Financial Management pillars: Record-to-Report (R2R) Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Contracts-to-Cash (C2C) Experience gathering requirements, facilitating workshops, solution design, configuration, testing, and deployment. Experience supporting pre-sales activities including estimations, proposals, and solution presentations. Strong consulting, stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication skills. Ability to mentor team members and provide functional leadership across projects. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment. Eligible for SC Clearance - you must have been a UK resident for the last five years and be legally entitled to work in the UK. Minimal travel required, but must be willing to travel on-site as needed. #LI-Remote Why choose Cognizant: Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes your ideas Opportunity to do great work Outreach programs that support communities and tap into your volunteer spirit Learning opportunities to help current needs and advancement Global operations, with opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific An abundance of Affinity groups to meet your needs Cognizant Core Values: Work as One: We think beyond roles, relying on each other’s strengths to win as a team. Raise the Bar: We always aim for excellence in how we work and what we deliver. Dare to Innovate: We push boundaries and take chances to reimagine what’s possible. Do the Right Thing: We all lead with integrity and always make the ethical choice. Own It: We own the outcomes for our company, colleagues, and community.